The CIRMOUNT International Relations Work Group works at the nexus of regional and international scales in mountain climate science. In particular, the international Mountain Research Initiative (MRI) and CIRMOUNT have nearly identical goals and MRI has endorsed CIRMOUNT as a regional pilot project within its global network. This relationship provides mutual opportunities and responsibilities, and invites the question: What are the real points of contact and collaboration between global (MRI) and regional (CIRMOUNT) mountain climate science consortia?

Short term goals of the International Relations Work Group include:

1. Determining the role for CIRMOUNT at the MRI-sponsored Open Science Conference in Perth, Scotland, October 2005.
2. Articulating the benefits of international collaboration within CIRMOUNT's planned publication, Mapping New Terrain.
3. Presenting the Global Change in Mountains Research theme to the International Group of Funding Agencies (IGFA) annual meeting.